Three-time Central Hockey League All-Star Brad Williamson of the Colorado Eagles has been named the CHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman for the 2006-2007 season, earning the selection through balloting of CHL head coaches, communications departments and selected media members in each market. Williamson finished just ahead of Derek Landmesser of the Memphis RiverKings in voting, with the duo both earning selection to the 2006-2007 All-CHL Team earlier this week. The Most Outstanding Defenseman award is ‘presented annually to the Central Hockey League defenseman who has demonstrated the greatest all-round ability in the position.’
The Thunder Bay, Ontario native leads all CHL rearguards with 56 assists and 65 points (both career highs), and ranks second among all defensemen to only New Mexico’s Aaron MacInnis with a +28 plus/minus rating. More than half of his points (six goals, 35 assists) have come while quarterbacking the Eagle’s top ranked power play unit, converting 21.6% of their opportunities with the man advantage.
An Eagle since franchise inception in the 2003-2004 season, Williamson appears to be improving each year, increasing his point totals annually while regularly appearing among the CHL’s plus/minus leaders. In 243 games with the club, the dependable Williamson has totaled 37 goals, 170 assists, 207 points and a +113 plus/minus ranking while missing just seven games in four seasons of play. “This is a well deserved award for Brad,” said Eagles Head Coach Chris Stewart. “He has been in the upper echelon of defensemen since he came to Colorado.”
A graduate of the University of North Dakota, Williamson and his Eagles teammates are hoping to secure their third straight Governor’s Cup title as CHL regular season champions, needing three points in their final two games to guarantee them the overall top seed entering the Ray Miron President’s Cup playoffs.
The recipient of the CHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender award will be announced later today, with the CHL Most Valuable Player award selection announced Monday, March 26th, in conjunction with the winner of the Joe Burton Scoring Champion award. Already announced earlier this week were the recipients of CHL Athletic Trainer of the Year (Youngstown’s Mike Ermatinger), CHL Equipment Manager of the Year (Oklahoma City’s Brandon Rose) CHL Coach of the Year (Memphis’ Kevin McClelland), Rick Kozuback Award (Arizona Coach Marco Pietroniro) CHL Man of the Year (Colorado’s Riley Nelson), CHL Rookie of the Year (Bossier-Shreveport's Cam Abbott) honors, along with both the 2006-2007 All-CHL and All-Rookie teams.
2006-2007 Central Hockey League Award Recipients
All-CHL Team
F: Jeff Christian, Youngstown SteelHounds
F: Brent Kelly, Arizona Sundogs
F: Chris Richards, Youngstown SteelHounds
D: Derek Landmesser, Memphis RiverKings
D: Brad Williamson, Colorado Eagles
G: John DeCaro, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
All-Rookie Team
F: Cam Abbott, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
F: Bobby Chaumont, Laredo Bucks
F: Ryan McLeod, New Mexico Scorpions
D: Alex Dunn, Odessa Jackalopes
D: Craig Strain, Colorado Eagles
G: John DeCaro, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Coach of the Year
Kevin McClelland, Memphis RiverKings
Athletic Trainer of the Year
Mike Ermatinger, Youngstown SteelHounds
Equipment Manager of the Year
Brandon Rose, Oklahoma City Blazers
CHL Man of the Year
Riley Nelson, Colorado Eagles
Rick Kozuback Award
Marco Pietroniro, Arizona Sundogs
CHL Rookie of the Year
Cam Abbott, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Most Outstanding Defenseman
Brad Williamson, Colorado Eagles
Most Outstanding Goaltender
TBA Friday, March 23rd
Joe Burton Scoring Champion
TBA Monday, March 26th
Most Valuable Player
TBA Monday, March 26th
